get the blue. >>> the white house has just responded to the new fiscal cliff offer from house republicans. let's bring in our chief white house correspondent jessica yellin. jessica, how's the response? >> reporter: hi, wolf. it should not be a surprise that the white house is dismissing the house republicans' offer as an unserious offer because it does not address a raise in tax rates. here's a statement from dan pfeiffer, the communications director here at the white house. he says in a statement in part, quote, the republican letter released today does not meet the test of balance. in fact, it actually promises to lower tax rates for the wealthy and sticks the middle class with the bill. the republicans' plan includes nothing new and provides no details on which deductions they would eliminate, which loopholes they will close or which medicare savings they would achieve. he goes on to say, until the republicans in congress are willing to get serious about asking the wealthiest to pay slightly higher tax rates, we won't be able to achieve a significant, balanced approach to reduce our d